Dromore Reformed Presbyterian Church Independent Examiner’s Report 2025
Trustee Annual Report for Dromore Reformed Presbyterian Church for the year ended 31st December 2025.
Charity Details Dromore Reformed Presbyterian Church
14 Brewery Lane, Dromore, Co. Down, BT25 1AH
Charity Registration Number : NIC106256
Charity Trustees
Rev Philip Dunwoody Dr Raymond Steen Mr Raymond Gamble
Principal Office Bearers
Minister Rev Philip Dunwoody
Session Dr Raymond Steen + Mr Raymond Gamble +Mr Gregg Somerville Deacon/Secretary Dr Gareth McKeeman
Deacon/Treasurer Dr Alan Ball
Deacons Mr Gavin McCaughan + Mr Brian Rankin
Mr Stephen Hawthorne + Mr Timothy Frazer
Independent Examiner Mr William McCollum FCA
DROMORE SESSION REPORT 2025
Dromore Session rejoices in God’s mercies over the course of another year, during which we considered Paul’s prayer for the Colossians: “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col. 1:10). We give thanks for God’s sustaining grace as we seek to bear fruit in his service and come to know him better.
Session
Session met on ten occasions during the year. This included meetings to oversee the sacraments and to oversee elections of elders. Session gave time to prayer, plans for preaching the Word, evangelism and the pastoral needs of the congregation.
In September Session petitioned the Eastern Presbytery to appoint an interim elder for the congregation, given that our clerk is a full-time student for gospel ministry. We were thankful for Presbytery’s approval and for the willingness to appoint an interim elder.
Prayer
A Day of Fasting and Prayer was held on Saturday 4[th ] January, with members participating in person or online. A prayer time is held during the morning Sabbath School, particularly for parents, but all are welcome. Session particularly encourages members to commit to the Lord’s Day evening prayer times before worship and to corporate midweek prayer meetings.
Worship
Lord’s Day morning and evening worship services were held throughout the year. Average morning attendance in 2025 was 52, down 1 on 2024, with a high of 64 and a low of 32. Average evening attendance was 42, up 3 on 2024, with a high of 55 and a low of 29. We were once again encouraged by regular visitors at monthly evening guest services and by more of our covenant children being present.
a) Preaching
Rev. Dunwoody completed a sermon series on the Book of Genesis, covering chapters 3750, having preached through the book in several segments over the course of four years. Mr Dunwoody also completed a series of sermons, preached once per month, on the theme ‘Reformed and Presbyterian: Who We Are and What We Believe.’ He preached on Psalms 35 and 36 and delivered a fourteen-sermon series on Colossians. Guest services gave opportunity for more topical preaching (see below). Communion seasons focused on the words of Christ on the cross.
Mr Dunwoody took 5 pulpit supplies in the wider denomination and 6 weeks of holiday in 2025. He also had the opportunity to preach in First Reformed Presbyterian Church Cambridge, Massachusetts, as part of his work on the RP Global Alliance Committee. He exchanged pulpits on one occasion with Rev. Robert M. McCollum in Lisburn.
b) Sacraments
The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was observed on 4 occasions during the year (2[nd] March, 1[st] June, 7[th] September and 7[th] December). An average of 33 members partook of
the Sacrament, a decrease of 2 from 2024 (35). Communion Preparation Services were held on the preceding Wednesday evenings.
c) Psalmody
Session records its thanks to the precentors for raising the singing. We are also thankful to a member in Rathfriland, who precented at one evening service each month. In the autumn the congregation began a time of informal psalm-singing following evening worship on the second Lord’s Day each month. Session believes this has already helped us in our singing and it has been a blessing to enjoy fellowship in this way.
The congregation also held a praise service on the first Lord’s Day evening of the year, under the theme, ‘My Times Are in Your Hands’; this was well-attended by both members and visitors. During the course of a ‘Reformed and Presbyterian’ preaching series Rev. Dunwoody preached two sermons outlining the biblical basis for singing the psalms exclusively in worship.
Midweek Meetings & Church Fellowship
Prayer meetings, preceded by Scripture exposition and singing, were generally held in Brewery Lane on first and third Wednesdays each month. Monthly Home Groups, consisting of Bible study, prayer and fellowship, also took place. In the autumn the Body Life booklet, produced by the denomination’s Mission Committee, was used for several midweek meetings.
Monthly meetings for men’s and women’s fellowship also continued and we had an update from Mr Henry Montgomery on the work of Asia Link in September.
Session encourages members to attend midweek meetings as regularly as possible, though we are mindful of the commitments many members have to young families. Session records its thanks to those members who contribute to the organisation of the fellowship meeting programmes, including the Body & Soul ministry on Mondays.
Session also records thanks for those who organised a very enjoyable church outing to Montalto Estate on Saturday 21[st] June.
Church Weekend
The Session and Diaconate organised a congregational weekend at the Kilbroney Centre, Rostrevor, from Friday 22[nd] – Lord’s Day 24[th] August. Our guest speaker was Rev. Keith McIlroy, minister in First Dromore Presbyterian Church, who spoke on the theme ‘Body Life’, which tied in with our planned midweek series in the autumn. The weekend was a joyful time and a highlight of the year. We were blessed with wonderful weather and enjoyable activities, as well as times of worship and fellowship. Session thanks all those who helped to organise and lead the weekend.
Corporate Gospel Witness
a) Guest Services
A series on the theme, ‘Have You Ever Wondered…?’ continued in the spring. In the autumn invitations were delivered door-to-door and via social media for visitors to attend monthly meetings focusing on the ‘I am’ sayings of Jesus. We had fewer visitors in the autumn but are thankful for the attendance of some individuals as yet not part of any local church.
b) Hope Explored
This three-part series was held in June. We were delighted to welcome two guests each week, one of whom began attending worship and is meeting for regular Bible study with our minister.
c) Street Outreach and Bible Distribution
In August, ahead of our monthly guest services resuming, free Bibles were offered in Dromore town centre as well as invitations to worship and evangelistic tracts. We were delighted that approximately 35 people, several of them quite young, took Bibles and that others stopped to chat.
d) Mountvale Nursing Home
Monthly Lord’s Day visits, consisting of psalm-singing, Scripture reading and a short address, continued.
e) Lunch Group
The Thursday lunch for seniors was held from January to June. A faithful member has stepped down after many years of faithful service; we thank her and all who served with her for their dedication to showing practical love and welcome to our elderly members and neighbours. There are plans to resume a monthly lunch ministry in 2026.
f) Online Witness
Streaming of services and publication of sermons via social media continues in an effort to promote the gospel both locally and around the world. Our minister also posted some short videos inviting local people to our guest services.
Session commends members who have participated, whether practically or in other ways, with our outreach efforts throughout the year.
Children’s Ministries
a) Sabbath School & Sermon Sheet
Session commends our faithful teachers in preparing and teaching the lessons. Session gives thanks for the ongoing work of our superintendent.
A weekly worksheet for children based on the morning sermon has been diligently produced by one member and we thank them for this very helpful resource which aids children in listening to the preaching of the Word and to participate in worship.
b) Covenanter Youth
The Joint CY with Dromara, Lisburn and Bailiesmills continues to be a fruitful ministry for our secondary school-aged children. Session records its thanks to all the leaders.
c) Arrows
Session is thankful for the organising of several Saturday afternoon meetings for our primary school-aged children.
Pastoral Visitation
Session conducted pastoral visitation throughout the course of the year, with one family visited in January 2026. Session is eager to meet at least once in the year with everyone to ensure that we minister the Word and pray for the needs of members and families.
Membership Changes
Our current communicant membership is 42 adults and 29 covenant children. Session was delighted to welcome one person into full membership upon public profession of faith. The sacrament of baptism was administered to one child. One individual was removed from the roll of membership having not worshiped in the congregation for several years and having not responded to several communications from Session.
Diaconate
Session is thankful for the work the deacons have carried out during the year, particularly in organising the church weekend, giving consideration to the Thursday lunch ministry and in providing ongoing support for Mr João Cid and his family in Portugal. Sabbath School continues to meet in Dromore High School with all other services in Brewery Lane. The deacons made several updates to the audio and video equipment in our meeting house and plan to arrange painting and furnishing in the coming year.
The congregation has received planning permission from the local council for renovating and extending our building; we seek the Lord’s guidance as to whether to pursue this.
Student for Gospel Ministry
Our Clerk of Session, Mr Raymond Gamble, completed his first year of study at Reformed Theological College, Belfast, along with a two-month placement with Woodstock Road RP Church. We give thanks for Raymond’s developing gifts for preaching and pastoral work and commend his ongoing studies to the Lord. His work alongside the deacons in reconfiguring the audio-visual setup in Brewery Lane proved invaluable.
Conclusion
Session gives thanks for the Lord’s sustaining of our fellowship and witness throughout 2025. We pray that he would be pleased to further build us up together in Christ and use us in his service in the year ahead.
‘[Hold] fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God’ (Colossians 2:19).
Dromore Reformed Presbyterian Church Session